Lack of time

I used to hate it when people had babies and consequently ignored their blogs. I thought, "Can't they just blog when the baby sleeps? Don't babies sleep like 16 out of 24 hours a day??"

Well. I stand corrected.

Even while pregnant, I envisioned myself as Supermom, keeping up with my blog. Writing more often than once every 2 weeks. Surprise, my friends, reality is a stinging slap in the face. And so is trying to parent a 4-month-old after getting 3.5 hours of sleep. Note: I don't usually only get 3.5 hours, I'm just having trouble sleeping at night since returning to my precious night-shift nursing job... June can't get here fast enough. (I'm moving to day shift!!)

When my Cohen takes his first nap, around 10 am to 11:30 or 12, I nap too. I can't help myself. I curl up on the couch and try to catch a good hour and a half of coveted zzz's. I only wake when I hear him stirring in his swing. Then we're up and at 'em.

A few of the things I do when he's awake?
Feed him.
Change his diapers. Sometimes twice, sometimes three times.
Change his clothes.
Start a load of laundry.
Wash bottles and other dishes.
Pick up all his toys.
Get out toys for him to play with.
Scarf down a snack for myself.

These are just a few of my favorite things. And the sweet boy is in a stage right now where he can't be left to play by himself for very long. 10 minutes is pushing it. Then during his afternoon nap, I use this time for the finer things in life. Like showering, for example. Or blogging, or watching an episode of Desperate Housewives or Glee from two weeks ago. Yes, I'm usually that behind.

This may sound like complaining, but really, it's just writing. I wouldn't trade a moment with my son for anything in the world. His 4 month (yes...FOUR month) update will be coming later this week.

But, come on... does it get easier? Will I ever feel caught up, on top of things again? I think I equate Cohen sleeping through the night with the return of my sanity. More on this in his monthly update. We recently got triplets at work and I can't help but wonder what those parents are going to do once they get their babies home. Go nuts, I'd imagine. I am immensely thankful to have a husband who can keep our baby at night while I work and during the day for a bit while I sleep. His work can work around it. We are blessed beyond measure.

So, Supermom, if you're out there (and self-righteous enough), tell me your secrets. :)

Be looking for a yummy cuppie (my new term for cupcake, I think) recipe in a couple days!!

iiCinco de Mayo!!

Cinco de Mayo, in my familia, has always been a celebración of something else. My hermano's (brother's) birthday! What a fun day to have your cumpleaños (birthday). :) Josh is 27 this year!

**FYI**
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5. It is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla. The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War. In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Contrary to widespread popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day, the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico, which occurs on September 16th.


*Thanks for the info, Wikipedia 
**I did not know this. :)


Cohen communicated with me a week or so ago that he'd like to see his Tio (uncle) Josh on his birthday this year. :) So, I began preparing ideas. His birthday fell on a Thursday, which meant he'd be teaching. And I worked Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night. I decided on a lunch time Fiesta for him. It worked out that my Mom was here from Tuesday to Thursday, so she was able to join in and help! 


I wanted to make cupcakes. But with working the three nights previous to this fiesta, I knew they'd be from a box mix. But the butter cream was home-made! (thanks for helping with this Mom!)

 Vainilla! (vanilla)

 And Chocolate! (because we couldn't remember his favorite.. It's Chocolate, btw!

We colored the butter cream verde! (green)

We went to Party City in hopes of finding some cute Cinco de Mayo cupcake decorations... none. So, I had the idea to make my own from paper plates. So I did. :)

I cut out the shapes and attached them to toothpicks.

Pretty cute! The cutting was the most time consuming part of this whole project. And we had 36 cupcakes. :)

I asked his girlfriend for lunch ideas. I wanted Mexican (of course..) and it needed to be near his school. She suggested Amelia's Cocina Mexicana. (translated: Amelia's Mexican Kitchen) Good choice!

So Thursday, after an hour of sleep, we frosted the cupcakes and loaded up Cohen. (Hector was busy and couldn't join us.) We stopped at Amelia's and got enchiladas, nachos, chips and salsa. This was a surprise for Josh, remember. 

We got to the school about 20 minutes before his lunch. We checked in at the office and the secretary called his room to see if he was in there. (He told us he thought something was up when she did this..) :)

I knocked on the door and then just opened it. I poked my head in with Cohen visible, and he looked at us and was so surprised and happy! He immediately put down what he was doing and made his way over. 

My Cohen didn't know what to think of his new surroundings!

Cohen was Superman for the day (Josh loves Superman; all part of the surprise)

So then, all the little girls in his class wanted to hold Cohen. I cringed but obliged after asking them if they'd been sick, making them sanitize their hands and sit in a chair.  A few of their comments? "Look at his cheeks!" "He looks like my little brother!" "My hair did that when I was a baby!" "Is he part Mexican?" (these kiddos were smart!) "I'm part Mexican!" which lead to "I'm half English, half Mexican and half Scottish." to which I replied, "That's three halves!" She shrugged, as if to say "It is what it is." :) I love kids. 

Something about my brother? Wherever he is, people love him. The office staff, the other teachers, the kids, the kids' parents; they all love him. I know that he is a wonderful teacher and employee. I'm so proud to be his sister. 

See? told ya.

Then we ate lunch in his classroom!

 Josh's enchiladas.

Mom's and my nachos.

The finished cupcakes!

There ya go, Superman poster in his classroom!

And right about now, Cohen got sleepy and cranky. He hadn't had a good morning nap. But while I was holding him and walking, he spit out his paci and full-on laughed out loud! I've only seen this one other time, when he was playing with Daddy. But he was just looking up at me smiling and I said, "What is it baby??" and he giggled. "What's so funny?" more giggling. I'm not kidding. It was that ultra cute baby laughing that people put on YouTube. I just didn't have my flip video handy. I teared up, because it was so cute and sweet. And he still doesn't do this very often. 

Trying to get Cohen to take a nap... not happening. 

We decided to take Cohen outside, Josh wanted us to meet a couple teachers who were on playground duty. 

Cue stampede of children who spotted a cute baby:

 Not sure if the sombrero is for his birthday or Cinco de Mayo. Both?

There are more kids running up, too.

Cohen has never seen such a thing!

These kids must smile for any 'ol stranger with a camera! :)

Uncle Josh with Little Coco

I'm telling you, this baby was tired. He fell asleep as soon as I buckled him in!

It was such a nice surprise for Josh. He was so happy that we came out just for his birthday. I'm sad that I didn't get a picture with him. We love you Uncle Josh! Happy Birthday! Happy Cinco de Mayo!

CUPCAKES!!

I made Easter cupcakes!

They were a red velvet box mix and I used milk instead of water. They're perfect! (Thanks for the tip, Amber!)

I got the buttercream frosting recipe from a Kitchenaid cook book I have.

1/3 C softened butter
1/4 C whipping cream or evaporated milk
1 t vanilla
1/4 t salt
4 C powdered sugar

That's it! I used the evaporated milk, just to try it. It turned out delicious! I added blue food coloring to the mix once it was almost creamed to perfection.

Hungry yet??!

My first Primary!!

At work, in the NNICU, we have a very special opportunity to do something wonderful for our baby's families. We are able to "pick up" a baby and become their primary nurse. That means we take care of that baby every time we go in to work and get to be very close to the baby's family. It is so wonderful because the moms and dads are able to see the same nurses taking care of their sweet little infants; it provides continuity of care. We develop a great rapport so that the parents feel comfortable enough to ask us anything and really become interactive in their baby's care during their stay in our NNICU.

We are supposed to work in the NNICU for a year before taking on a primary baby, but there are lots of babies on the unit who need primaries, so they are fudging a little and letting my residency pick up a couple weeks early.

So, since I've been back at work, 5 out of my 7 shifts, I have been taking care of this sweet baby girl. Of course I cannot share her name or any specifics, but I'd like to keep you updated a little, as she's my first. I went in to work on Thursday night, ready to sign up for her, and whatdoyaknow... another night nurse had picked her up! :( But it's OK, we're going to share; be co-primaries. The other nurse is her first primary, so if we're both working, she'll get her. I get her when she's not there. Maybe it's good that I'm sharing, for my first primary baby. So I can learn the ropes with an experienced nurse. A little about this baby? I'll call her "M". She was born very early and very small. She weighed about a pound and a half when she was born. She's growing and as of my last shift was doing pretty good!

I'm working tomorrow and Tuesday night, so I may get her. I made her a couple of headbands on my days off.

Isn't it cute?? It's going to look PRESH on her!

Updates later. :) Prayers appreciated for M.

Hanging out with Jordan and Alysse

Cohen and I went last Thursday to help Jordan with her doctor's appointment. She wasn't sure how Alysse would do during the appointment, so I went along to keep Alysse company. Alysse was 6 weeks old! Weighing over 7 pounds now! She did perfectly at the doctor's office. I just gave her a bottle while Jordan was with the doctor. And this little girl drank 4 ounces! We just started offering Cohen 5 ounces! I immediately felt like we were depriving Coco of milk he needs! ha ha

Look how she's grown!

Moving so fast the picture's blurry! :)

Cohen just kept babbling around her, and I was trying to imagine what it would be like when they are both little chatterboxes! It's going to be so sweet. I just look forward to holidays with the family now! Babies really make holidays more fun, don't you think?

Cousin Alysse

Lost these pics (read: forgot to blog them)...

On March 24th we took the Rios' some dinner (chili and cornbread and cheesecake) to give them a night off. It was fun getting to see how Alysse had grown in the two weeks since I'd seen her.

She was still tiny as ever.. and cute as ever. :)

Cousins!

Sleeping angel :)

Taco Diner with the Foundation Group

Wednesday night, our foundation group leaders wanted to come up to Plano and eat dinner with all of us. It's almost summer and they leave for Florida for the entire summer, so they're trying to get some quality time in with us. Plus, they're about to set us free; on our own. No longer a Foundation Group, but a Community Group. It's a little exciting; a little daunting. We will also be losing our sweet, sweet friends, the Brannen's (to Houston) and the Dunn's (to Colorado). Our group is changing and it's sad and scary. But that just makes me so thankful that we have the Rays, the Allen's and the Cole's to stay here, to cultivate deeper friendships and deeper relationships with Jesus. I'm excited to find a good, relevant book or study to do with the group either when summer starts or ends. The sooner the better, I say!

Hector, David, Patrick, Tyler W., Cory and Preston

Callie, Me, Jackie, Coco, Brittany, Ashley and Lisa

Brittany and Ashley with Cohen

My big boy!

Cohen loves to stand up :) Moving a little too fast for me... He's so silly too; when he sees me hold up the camera or my iPhone, he gets a "deer in headlights" look and nearly refuses to smile. Hector has to play cheesy Sears photo studio photographer and make silly noises, shake toys and stick out his tongue to get this child to smile when he sees the camera. I bet he'll start hammin' it up soon enough though. And flirting with girls.. uugghhh.. I already see him grinning at all of my girlfriends.. :)